All stories by Christopher D. Shea on BroadwayStars

Friday, May 19, 2017

Glenda Jackson to Return to Broadway in Albee’s ‘Three Tall Women’ by Christopher D. Shea

Laurie Metcalf will co-star in the production, which will be directed by Joe Mantello.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:42AM
Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Big Changes Planned for Volksbühne Theater in Berlin by Christopher D. Shea

The theater’s new artistic director, Chris Dercon, has promised a shift toward interdisciplinary work and international artists.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:33PM
Thursday, May 11, 2017

Robert Kelley to Retire After 50 Years at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley by Christopher D. Shea

Mr. Kelley developed the theater in Palo Alto, Calif., from a center for local talent into an incubator for new work that has helped foster major playwrights.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:48AM
Friday, April 21, 2017

Emma Rice, Shakespeare’s Globe Director, Writes Letter to Successor by Christopher D. Shea

Ms. Rice wrote that she loved the Globe, but that she has learned not “to allow myself to be excluded from the rooms where decisions are made.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:36PM
Thursday, April 20, 2017

Kelli O’Hara to Star in ‘Brigadoon’ at City Center by Christopher D. Shea

A concert staging of the 1947 Lerner and Loewe musical will run from Nov. 15 to 19.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:02AM
Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Nicholas Hytner Will Open New London Theater With ‘Young Marx’ by Christopher D. Shea

The comedy, starring Rory Kinnear, will begin the first season of the former National Theater director’s Bridge Theater.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:54AM
Sunday, April 9, 2017

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Sets Olivier Awards Record by Christopher D. Shea

The theatrical sequel to J.K. Rowling’s novels won nine prizes at London’s top theater awards ceremony.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:12PM

The Oliviers vs. the Tonys: Mixed Rewards For Shows by Christopher D. Shea

Does a play’s success on one side of the Atlantic signal success on the other side? Not necessarily. Here’s a look at how eight recent shows fared.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:12AM
Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Pharrell Williams’s Life to Become a Movie Musical, ‘Atlantis’ by Christopher D. Shea

Fox has signed on to produce the film, inspired by elements of Mr. Williams’s childhood in Virginia Beach, and Michael Mayer will direct.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:36PM
Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Manhattan Theater Club Announces Two New Plays by Women by Christopher D. Shea

‘In the Body of the World’ and ‘Actually’ will be part of this theater’s 2017-18 season and part of the discussion about gender imbalance on Broadway.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:36PM
Tuesday, March 21, 2017

‘The Fantasticks’ Is Set to Close Off Broadway in June by Christopher D. Shea

The show is to have its final performance at the Jerry Orbach Theater on June 4; “The Crusade of Connor Stephens” will start previews there June 17.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:24PM
Sunday, February 12, 2017

‘La La Land’ Wins Five Baftas, Continuing Its Oscar Momentum by Christopher D. Shea

The movie won the British film awards for best picture; best cinematography; best music; best actress, for Emma Stone; and best director, for Damien Chazelle.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:32PM
Friday, February 3, 2017

Audra McDonald to Make Her West End Debut (for Real) by Christopher D. Shea

The actress, whose performance in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill” was postponed when she was pregnant, will play Billie Holiday in London beginning in June.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:32AM
Friday, January 27, 2017

National Theater in London to Stage the Dark Comedy ‘Network’ as a Play by Christopher D. Shea

Bryan Cranston will play Howard Beale in the adaptation, one of several productions that the venue announced for 2017 and 2018.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:33AM
Monday, January 23, 2017

‘Pinocchio’ Heading to London Stage by Christopher D. Shea and Michael Paulson

The adaptation, approved by Disney Theatrical Productions, will have songs from the 1940 film, and is to open at the National Theater in December.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:48PM
Monday, October 31, 2016

Royal Court Theater Announces World Premiere Lineup by Christopher D. Shea

A stage adaptation of “The Kid Stays in the Picture,” about the producer Robert Evans, is among this company’s offerings for the 2017 season.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:48PM
Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Emma Rice Will Bow Out as Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe by Christopher D. Shea

A statement from the theater’s board suggested that the use of technology in productions led to the decision about her departure, in 2018.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:57PM
Monday, October 24, 2016

New Oxford Shakespeare Edition Credits Christopher Marlowe as a Co-author by Christopher D. Shea

Marlowe is being listed on the three “Henry VI” plays, parts 1, 2 and 3, which have long been believed to be the work of more than one writer.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:44PM
Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Shakespeare Didn’t Actually Write That by Christopher D. Shea

The scholar David McInnis delves into which phrases attributed to Shakespeare were used by him first — or not.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:55PM
Friday, July 29, 2016

250,000 More Tickets to Be Released for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ by Christopher D. Shea

The show, which officially opened this week in London, is sold out through next May, and the new tickets will be for performances next year.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:20AM
Monday, July 25, 2016

‘Lazarus,’ a Musical by David Bowie and Enda Walsh, to Open in London by Christopher D. Shea

The production, which includes a mix of old and new songs from Mr. Bowie, opened in New York last year.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:08PM
Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Plans for Volksbühne Theater Cause Worry About Berlin’s Artistic Direction by Christopher D. Shea

Critics fret that Chris Dercon, who is to take over next year, could transform this theater’s avant-garde programming to attract more tourists and millennials.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:02PM
Friday, June 10, 2016

‘Harry Potter’ Play Says Live Owls Will No Longer be Used in Show by Christopher D. Shea

After one of the birds escaped backstage at the preview of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ the producers decided to no longer feature live owls.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:27AM
Tuesday, May 31, 2016

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Photos Are Released by Christopher D. Shea

The first official photos show several of the actors in costume for the production, which opens in London on June 7.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:04PM
Thursday, May 12, 2016

Sheridan Smith on Hiatus From West End Production of ‘Funny Girl’ by Christopher D. Shea

The production’s publicists cited “stress and exhaustion” as the reasons for her departure; Natasha J. Barnes will replace her temporarily.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:22AM
Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Jude Law to Star in ‘Obsession’ on London Stage by Christopher D. Shea

The new play, based on the 1943 Luchino Visconti film, will show at the Barbican Center in London in 2017.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:40AM
Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Glenda Jackson to Play King Lear at the Old Vic by Christopher D. Shea

The actress-turned-politician Glenda Jackson will star as King Lear at the Old Vic in London in its 2016-17 season.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:26PM
Monday, April 4, 2016

Judi Dench Wins Eighth Olivier Award in London by Christopher D. Shea

Ms. Dench won the best supporting actress award for her performance in “The Winter’s Tale,” produced by the Kenneth Branagh Theater Company.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:09AM
Thursday, March 24, 2016

Alas, Poor William Shakespeare. Where Does His Skull Rest? by Christopher D. Shea

Researchers have uncovered evidence that they say indicates his skull was stolen from his grave by a local doctor in 1794.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:26PM
Tuesday, March 22, 2016

London’s Globe Theater Is Winding Up ‘Hamlet’ World Tour by Christopher D. Shea

Playing in small theaters and to groups who may never have seen professional actors, the Globe has taken a pared-down “Hamlet” to about 200 countries.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:21AM
Sunday, March 20, 2016

‘War of the Worlds’ Shape-Shifts Onto the London Stage by Christopher D. Shea

This stage production, whose team includes the album’s writer, cranks up the excess of “Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of the War of the Worlds.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:28PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards